‘The biggest deck on the Mornington Peninsula’

Nikki Osborne is an actor, comedian and TV personality. She is the host of Find Me a Dream Home on 9Life.

Where do you live?

In a prefabricated house on the Mornington Peninsula with two kids, a dog and my husband.

What property do you own?

Just this house, which we bought as our forever home. It was built in a factory, trucked down in parts and craned on to site. It’s an L shape with two wings joined together with a giant deck we built. We clad our house with sandstone as we have a BAL (bushfire attack level) of 40 (which is high risk). Normally, they come clad in spotted gum.

What do you love most about your home?

My husband has the biggest deck on the Mornington Peninsula and it has an expansive view over Port Phillip Bay. Many a cheese is eaten on our deck.

About eight, I’d say. The most memorable was the amazing house my parents built in Queensland that won many architecture awards. It was like a crystal castle on the beach — spectacular. It’s now been zoned as an official landmark of the area and can’t be demolished. A win for architecture, a loss for developers.

Osborne said ‘don’t buy the best property in the street’ was bad advice.

Your first foot on the property ladder?

Our current abode. When finances permit, I’d love to buy a holiday apartment in Queensland.

Are you a keen or reluctant property buyer?

Reluctant. They are really expensive.

The highlights of your property journey?

Arriving at our block of land at 8am and seeing our house on the block by midday. It certainly gave the neighbours a fright.

The lowlights?

Having to amend our house plans midway through due to new fire ratings. While we are happier with the sandstone, we could’ve done without the planning dramas.

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Best property advice you’ve heard?

Don’t buy the best property in the street.

Worst property advice you’ve heard?

Finish renovations on your credit card.

Any tips for homebuyers?

Learn how to get on the tools. We own and operate an excavator so we could do our own landscaping.